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United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Oklahoma Crop Weather
Oklahoma Field Office
Cooperating with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
P.O. Box 528804 · Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8804
(405) 522-6190 · FAX (405) 528-2296 · www.nass.usda.gov/ok
A combined contribution with Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and Oklahoma Mesonet
-over-
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Information provided by respondents on NASS surveys, will remain completely confidential, as required by
Federal law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
Volume 35, Number 39
Weekly Summary for Oct 29-Nov 4
Issued November 5, 2012
Crop Conditions Decline with Lack of Rain
A very dry October ended and November began the same way. Only three out of 116 Mesonet sites recorded measurable rainfall for the week, and none recorded a quarter of an inch. According to OCS Mesonet, it has been as many as 52 days since parts of the state have seen a quarter of an inch of rain in one day. Cherokee and May Ranch in north central Oklahoma have gone the longest without significant rainfall, and the North Central district has seen only 39 percent of normal precipitation since September 1st. The drought persisted across the entire state, and resulted in the decline of small grain and canola conditions. Almost half of wheat was rated in fair condition, and another 30 percent was rated poor to very poor. Twenty-four percent of canola was rated poor to very poor, compared to only eight percent the previous week. After a freeze the week previous, this past week warmed up and new record highs were set in Oklahoma City and McAlester for November 2nd. The combination of warm and dry weather was taking a toll on grasses as well as the small grains planted early for winter pasture. Topsoil moisture conditions continued to decline from the week prior, with 88 percent rated short to very short. Subsoil moisture conditions rated short to very short also increased to represent 94 percent of the state. There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
Small Grains: As more of the small grain crops emerged, wheat conditions were rated mostly fair to poor and rye mostly fair. Wheat planting was 96 percent complete by the end of the week and 78 percent of the crop had emerged. Oat seedbed preparation was 81 percent complete and 47 percent was planted by week’s end. Thirty-nine percent of oats had emerged, just behind normal.
Canola conditions were rated mostly good to fair and 93 percent of the crop was emerged by week’s end.
Row Crops: Harvest was more than halfway complete for all row crops by the end of the week. Virtually all sorghum was mature by the end of the week and 87 percent had been harvested, 33 points ahead of normal. Soybeans in the mature stage reached 90 percent complete, and 63 percent had been harvested by Sunday, 11 points ahead of normal. Digging of peanuts was 86 percent complete, and 73 percent were combined by the end of the week, five points ahead of the five-year average. Virtually all remaining cotton plants had bolls opening by the end of the week and harvest was 59 percent complete, 21 points ahead of normal.
Hay: The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 77 percent complete by the end of the week. The second cutting of other hay was 73 percent complete, ten points behind normal, but 15 points ahead of last year’s progress.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and range continued to be rated mostly poor to very poor. Growth of winter grasses and pasture was limited. Livestock conditions were rated mostly good to fair as operators continued to supplement and feed hay to herds. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $144 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $134 per cwt.
Soil Moisture Conditions by Percent
Week Ending Sunday, November 4, 2012
Moisture Rating
Current Week
Previous Week
One Year Ago
Topsoil
Very Short
53
39
32
Short
35
38
31
Adequate
12
23
35
Surplus
0
0
2
Subsoil
Very Short
65
57
66
Short
29
32
25
Adequate
6
11
9
Surplus
0
0
0
Conditions by Percent
For Week Ending Sunday, November 4, 2012
Commodity
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Wheat
6
24
49
20
1
Canola
3
21
47
29
0
Rye
9
20
51
19
1
Soybeans
27
37
26
9
1
Cotton
35
44
12
9
0
Livestock
3
12
47
33
5
Pasture and Range
39
34
22
5
0

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Oklahoma Crop Weather
Oklahoma Field Office
Cooperating with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
P.O. Box 528804 · Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8804
(405) 522-6190 · FAX (405) 528-2296 · www.nass.usda.gov/ok
A combined contribution with Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and Oklahoma Mesonet
-over-
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Information provided by respondents on NASS surveys, will remain completely confidential, as required by
Federal law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
Volume 35, Number 39
Weekly Summary for Oct 29-Nov 4
Issued November 5, 2012
Crop Conditions Decline with Lack of Rain
A very dry October ended and November began the same way. Only three out of 116 Mesonet sites recorded measurable rainfall for the week, and none recorded a quarter of an inch. According to OCS Mesonet, it has been as many as 52 days since parts of the state have seen a quarter of an inch of rain in one day. Cherokee and May Ranch in north central Oklahoma have gone the longest without significant rainfall, and the North Central district has seen only 39 percent of normal precipitation since September 1st. The drought persisted across the entire state, and resulted in the decline of small grain and canola conditions. Almost half of wheat was rated in fair condition, and another 30 percent was rated poor to very poor. Twenty-four percent of canola was rated poor to very poor, compared to only eight percent the previous week. After a freeze the week previous, this past week warmed up and new record highs were set in Oklahoma City and McAlester for November 2nd. The combination of warm and dry weather was taking a toll on grasses as well as the small grains planted early for winter pasture. Topsoil moisture conditions continued to decline from the week prior, with 88 percent rated short to very short. Subsoil moisture conditions rated short to very short also increased to represent 94 percent of the state. There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
Small Grains: As more of the small grain crops emerged, wheat conditions were rated mostly fair to poor and rye mostly fair. Wheat planting was 96 percent complete by the end of the week and 78 percent of the crop had emerged. Oat seedbed preparation was 81 percent complete and 47 percent was planted by week’s end. Thirty-nine percent of oats had emerged, just behind normal.
Canola conditions were rated mostly good to fair and 93 percent of the crop was emerged by week’s end.
Row Crops: Harvest was more than halfway complete for all row crops by the end of the week. Virtually all sorghum was mature by the end of the week and 87 percent had been harvested, 33 points ahead of normal. Soybeans in the mature stage reached 90 percent complete, and 63 percent had been harvested by Sunday, 11 points ahead of normal. Digging of peanuts was 86 percent complete, and 73 percent were combined by the end of the week, five points ahead of the five-year average. Virtually all remaining cotton plants had bolls opening by the end of the week and harvest was 59 percent complete, 21 points ahead of normal.
Hay: The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 77 percent complete by the end of the week. The second cutting of other hay was 73 percent complete, ten points behind normal, but 15 points ahead of last year’s progress.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and range continued to be rated mostly poor to very poor. Growth of winter grasses and pasture was limited. Livestock conditions were rated mostly good to fair as operators continued to supplement and feed hay to herds. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $144 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $134 per cwt.
Soil Moisture Conditions by Percent
Week Ending Sunday, November 4, 2012
Moisture Rating
Current Week
Previous Week
One Year Ago
Topsoil
Very Short
53
39
32
Short
35
38
31
Adequate
12
23
35
Surplus
0
0
2
Subsoil
Very Short
65
57
66
Short
29
32
25
Adequate
6
11
9
Surplus
0
0
0
Conditions by Percent
For Week Ending Sunday, November 4, 2012
Commodity
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Wheat
6
24
49
20
1
Canola
3
21
47
29
0
Rye
9
20
51
19
1
Soybeans
27
37
26
9
1
Cotton
35
44
12
9
0
Livestock
3
12
47
33
5
Pasture and Range
39
34
22
5
0